After 27 games without losing, Barcelona stopped PSG in Paris. And Luis Enrique admits that that defeat hurt. “They were two difficult days,” he confessed. “But not just for the players. They, the employees and the fans are shaken after a defeat in the Champions League. But it's about falling down and getting up." In those 48 hours he recovered his players mentally and physically. Because the Asturian coach has had six clear days to prepare for the return. “We arrived at a great time,” he said.
“We have had time to prepare our attack better. I say it again: we are prepared," he insisted, since he needs to win in Montjuïc, at least by one goal to force extra time, although he reiterated that, in his opinion, the 2-3 in the first leg "does not accurately reflect what we deserved. We deserved at least a draw.”
The PSG coach did not hide his plans. “As a rule, we are a team that does not speculate. “Tomorrow that word does not exist for us.” And he announced that they are going to go on the attack. “We are going to press from minute 1,” he promised.
He exhibited that intensity and courage in Paris. And Luis Enrique expressed his chest that “Ter Stegen broke a record of 24 long balls to overcome that pressure.” “Barça is going to use the last line, at the foot of Lewandowski or in space. I think the game is going to be very similar to the one in Paris. I hope that Barça will be behind on the scoreboard during the match and that the emergencies will make for a good match,” he predicted.
The Asturian knows that the statistics are against him and he doesn't care. He is overconfident. “Historically I think that PSG has never come back after losing the first leg. Well this is the day.”
After admitting that he would have liked to play at the Camp Nou, which is under construction, he is also prepared for the reception of his fans, who idolized him as a player and as a coach after winning the treble in 2015. It will be the first time he returns. “I have always been very loved. I will gladly accept anything. But I am going to behave professionally,” he warned.
The return to Barcelona softened the coach a bit. “I have no doubt that Xavi is a top coach. I said that I didn't know him, which is true, I won't even know him anymore because I'm not going to play anymore. I would have loved to have been trained by Xavi, Pep Guardiola or Luis Aragonés. Because what I want to know is what he is like in the talks, inside, etc,” he revealed, before thanking the man from Terrassa for placing him as one of his references on the benches. “I appreciate it, especially from someone with whom I have shared so much. You leave me dumbfounded. Beautiful. I'm going to get excited and everything,” he joked.
Finally, he congratulated all the coaches of the quarterfinal teams, the four with a Blaugrana past and the rest. “It is wonderful that there are four coaches with Barça DNA. It doesn't matter who has more”, he was Solomonic this time. “In addition, there have been goals, and many, in all the games. Maybe it's a record. I congratulate all my colleagues.”
